Kappel-Grafenhausen: Water, Nature and Culture

Quarry Lake and Nature Watching

The quarry lake in Kappel offers space on a large sunbathing lawn and shallow access to the water. Swimming is possible at your own risk. These are the defining features for anyone wanting to spend time by the lake in Kappel. Nearby, another nature-related attraction takes centre stage: at Taubergießen, more than 200 bird species can be observed, including the increasingly rare kingfisher.

Time by the lake and birdwatching offer different experiences. The sunbathing lawn and water access make the quarry lake a good choice for a lakeside stay, while Taubergießen is particularly interesting for nature watching. If you are looking for a holiday apartment, consider which of these interests you would like to shape your holiday more. This will help you decide on the focus of your trip without treating the two experiences as the same.

Organ History in Grafenhausen

In 1890, August Merklin expanded the organ in St. Jakobus Parish Church in Grafenhausen by adding four stops and a second manual. The year and the specific changes offer a tangible point of reference for the history of church music: this is not only a historic instrument, but also a record of how its musical capabilities were expanded. The four additional stops and the extra manual mark different aspects of this development.

The local attractions are in different places within the destination: the quarry lake in Kappel and the organ in Grafenhausen. You can choose a holiday apartment based on the experiences that matter to you.

The Wider Ortenau District

As a wider destination, the Ortenau district offers a broader landscape setting: it lies between the Rhine and the Black Forest. The region has 23 nature reserves covering a total area of around 3,110 hectares. They extend from the Rhine plain to the higher elevations of the Black Forest. The Taubergießen nature reserve covers 1,695 hectares and is one of the largest nature reserves in Baden-Württemberg. These figures describe the regional diversity of the Ortenau district and add a broader landscape perspective to Kappel-Grafenhausen.

There is more to experience in the Ortenau district than lakes and nature watching. Rulantica in Rust offers year-round water fun for the whole family, with numerous indoor and outdoor water attractions. The complex also includes Hyggedal, a relaxation and sauna area. Europa-Park is also located in the municipality of Rust. The wider destination therefore brings together a range of attractions: water attractions, a relaxation and sauna area, and the named Europa-Park.

Culture enthusiasts will find further ways to explore the region. MiMa showcases unique minerals from the Black Forest, collected by the Friends of Minerals and Mining Oberwolfach association (Verein der Freunde von Mineralien und Bergbau Oberwolfach e. V.). A tour of the historic farmhouses at the Vogtsbauernhof Open-Air Museum shows how people in the Black Forest lived and worked up to 600 years ago. In Gengenbach, the night watchman’s tour includes twelve stops and the traditional night watchman’s song. The public tours are free; no booking is required. Check the tour times before your trip.

When looking for a holiday apartment, you can weigh up local interests in Kappel-Grafenhausen alongside attractions across the wider Ortenau district. Would you like your stay to focus mainly on the quarry lake, organ history or nature watching? Or would you also like to consider water attractions and regional cultural offerings when planning your trip? Deciding what matters most will give your search a clear direction.

Discover more destinations: Fischerbach, Lautenbach, Seebach, Wolfach, Nordrach, Ichenheim, Rheinau, Oberharmersbach.

Back to the wider travel overview: Ortenau district.